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El Reg reports
Steve Wozniak has spoken out against Apple's tax affairs, saying all companies ought to pay 50 per cent in taxes.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live he said: "I don't like the idea that Apple might be unfair--not paying taxes the way I do as a person.
"I do a lot of work, I do a lot of travel and I pay over 50 per cent of anything I make in taxes and I believe that's part of life and you should do it."
Asked if Apple should pay that amount, he replied: "Every company in the world should."
According to Woz, money was never a factor when he started the biz with Steve Jobs 40 years ago. He added: "Steve Jobs started Apple Computers for money, that was his big thing and that was extremely important and critical and good."
Europe is currently scrutinising Ireland's tax arrangements with Apple over an alleged sweetheart deal with the company. Some have speculated the probe could lead to Apple paying $8bn in back taxes, even though the case is against the Irish government.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 25 2016, @07:45PM
We live in a society where no one is free in the absolute sense. There are services that society provides for its members, and those services cost money. Its cute to see people arguing against taxing corporations and the rich, such delusions as to how society works.
But I do see your point, some people didn't ask to be taxed and want to live their own independent lives by the spoi... ahem, EARNINGS from their own hard work. This makes sense to any five year old, you worked for something so you should get to keep all of it. I vote we create a "free" state for such independent folks, and while we're at it we can emancipate any indebted poor by setting them "free" as well. It can be our new reality TV show, watch rich libertarians get hounded by thousands of poor people, will their ammo stocks last??
Or we can just realize that humanity is a group effort, and its in everyone's best interest to make sure everyone is looked out for. Not given lives of luxury, just the basics so that no one has to live in stress and anxiety about where they'll get their next meal, or whether an accident will send them into crippling debt for the rest of their lives.
I guess social security nets have little appeal for those who have amassed their own fortunes using the labor of others (or that dream of doing so), they've got theirs so who cares about some poor bastard in the ER who won't be able to support his kids. So instead of having people pay their fair share, you and the other commenters on this subthread would prefer to watch the world erupt in violent uprisings where they may be targeted by some disgruntled folks. Yes, smart move, good show, tipitty top, nice bootstraps.
(Score: 2) by jdavidb on Monday April 25 2016, @08:18PM
There are services that society provides for its members
You are conflating society with government. Right now we have one government and it is illegal to start another. It should be legal to start alternatives.
ⓋⒶ☮✝🕊 Secession is the right of all sentient beings
(Score: 2) by jdavidb on Monday April 25 2016, @08:19PM
I guess social security nets have little appeal for those who have amassed their own fortunes using the labor of others (or that dream of doing so), they've got theirs so who cares about some poor bastard in the ER who won't be able to support his kids.
ROTFL. I am the poor bastard who was in the ER with his baby just a few weeks ago, so I think you are pretty confused about where I am coming from.
ⓋⒶ☮✝🕊 Secession is the right of all sentient beings
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 25 2016, @08:52PM
Did you go into crippling debt over your hospital visit? If not then that is not a good counter example. Either you have company health insurance (a fun capitalistic example of how useful social programs are, though insurance adds a profit surcharge that I'd rather not pay), or you are independently wealthy, or you benefited from one of societies safety nets.
If you truly are a hardworking low wage parent then you are deluded by the promises and propaganda of our "work to be a millionaire!" culture. Pretty much all the socialist first world countries have higher quality of life than the US, which country are you in? The whole concept of government is having a group of people organize and tell the majority what to do. The goal is to have government provide for the people while maximizing personal freedom, almost two separate goals which are a constant balancing act.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 25 2016, @08:28PM
There are free societys like that. Take a look at Africa. There's plenty of countries where the king or emperor or whatever is the top dog and eveybody is free to shoot anyone less powerful. So what i wonder is why all the "government rules suck ass" idiots just don't move to a free place where they are free to exploit people? It's because they can't. There'll be people much more powerful than them and they will get their asses kicked. Bunch of hypocritical mofos.
(Score: 3, Funny) by shortscreen on Tuesday April 26 2016, @08:23AM
I already looked into it. I don't want to live near the equator though, too hot. I was thinking of some place sparsely populated and cooler, like Kamchatka. Turns out there aren't any good ISPs there. So before I go, I just have to finish downloading all the porn on the internet. I'll be ready any day now.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 26 2016, @02:16PM
I love how absolutist AC's can be. Almost no one who complains about taxes feels they are entirely unnecessary. Most of us complain about the magnitude of waste on corruption which are associated with it. And the resulting increase in taxes due to said corruption and waste, because the things we need still have to be covered even if the money is being squandered in huge amounts.
Of course useless AC's such as yourself will turn around and hawk "Well you voted for the government so it's your fault" which is utter nonsense. The system is so corrupt that only corporations have any effect on how the government is run, and that leads to the original reason for the article posted here.
Fuck yes I would love to pay for roads, bridges, schools, fire/police departments, and health care, none of which would cost 50% of my salary combined. Fuck no I don't want to pay for lifetime health benefits for political cronies, political appointments, fixed no-bid contracts that run 5x over budget and deliver substandard work, or shit like 2500 pie-in-the-sky planes that will cost absurd amount of money and still fail at their primary mission of bombing brow-to-black people in some 3rd world shit-hole I want nothing to do with in the first place.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 26 2016, @07:35PM
Your corporations and their lobbyists are too powerful. You do not have a properly functioning democracy. Tax the corporations more, subject them to regulation and oversight. Reduce their power. Return power to the hands of the individual. Make the corporations and the government work for the people.